Head to head
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery vs Small World
Which one is for you? Community verdicts, player-count fit, and taste contrasts, side by side.
Pick Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery if you want…
- A story you build over the course of play
- Grounded in real-world history
- More crunch (Medium-Heavy vs Medium)
- A longer, meatier session (about 120 min)
Pick Small World if you want…
- Sword-and-sorcery setting
- Grounded in real-world history
- The lighter teach (Medium vs Medium-Heavy)
- Shorter sessions (about 80 min vs 120)
Quick facts
| Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery | Small World | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2–5 | 2–5 |
| Play time | 90–120 min | 40–80 min |
| Complexity | Medium-Heavy | Medium |
| Age | 10+ | 8+ |
| Year | 2007 | 2009 |
Common questions
Which is lighter, Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery or Small World?
Small World is the lighter game (Medium complexity vs Medium-Heavy). Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery asks more of the table and suits groups who want more crunch.
Which plays faster, Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery or Small World?
Small World runs up to about 80 minutes; Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery up to about 120. For a weeknight slot, Small World is the quicker table.